Welcome to our Physical Therapy Assistant Jobs site. The purpose of this site is to provide a frequently updated list of current open positions for the physical therapy assistant. Our focus is on opportunities which are available in the United States. The jobs listed here are in the form of RSS feeds, and will be automatically updated when new jobs become available.

While a physical therapy aide obtains the necessary skill by on-the-job training, the physical therapy assistant in most states is required to have an associate degree from an accredited physical therapy assistant training program.

There are currently 233 accredited physical therapy assistant training programs in the United States. These programs usually last 2 years and result in the obtainment of an associate degree. Because the physical therapy assistant is considered one step above the physical therapy aide in terms of job responsibility, some states do require a license to work as a physical therapy assistant.

It should be noted that the mean salary for this profession is considered relatively high compared to other professions which require an associate degree.

For more information about education required for the physical therapy assistant in the United States go to Occupational Outlook Handbook provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Job outlook:

Due to a continual increase in demand for the services of a physical therapist, the job outlook in the United States looks very good for the physical therapy assistant. Employment for the physical therapy assistant is expected to grow around 29% from 2006 to 2016, which is considered greater then average relative to other occupations.

One of the major reasons for such high employment growth is due to the increase in the number of elderly in the United States. As the elderly population continues to expand, so does their need for physical therapy services.

It also should be noted that as the demand for physical therapy services increases, there is an ever increasing need to lower the cost of health care. This means that the physical therapist will allow the physical therapy assistant to handle many cases, under the direction of the physical therapist, in order to reduce the cost for the service.

These factors together mean that the physical therapist assistant will be in high demand, resulting in good job outlook and relatively higher pay.

A physical therapy assistant helps patients with their physical therapy sessions. They are capable of performing several responsibilities and can oversee the execution of the physical treatment program generated by a physical therapist. With the help of these assistants, physical therapists are able to take on more patients under their care. They are equipped with adequate knowledge to know how to function as a physical therapist minus the ability to come up with therapy programs. It is a rewarding career nevertheless because as an assistant, you get to be there to share the pain of your patients, coach them through their ordeal and bask in their joy as they regain mobility through the program you helped them take.

For every licensed physical therapist that the health care industry needs, they each need at least one physical therapy assistant to provide services to patients under their supervision. Sometimes, a physical therapist with a wide range of clientele will require 2 or more assistants. If you are adamant on entering the medical industry, specifically the health care field, this should be a good choice for you. There are several employment opportunities for you in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, private clinics and other health care facilities. Go here to read this entire article